Renting a new place. Something seems weird
Ok so I am trying to look for a new place. I manage to find something that looks great and reach out to the owner. The first response I get is asking for a $35 application fee and for me to fill out an application and provide a few months of paystubs. Now all of this is fairly standard, but I was just asking if the place was available and if I can see it. I asked once or twice more and was told I can’t disturb the current tenants ( again, totally fair ) but when I ask if the landlord could give them a heads up so I can tour the place it got a little squirmy. This is all via email so sometimes people neglect to answer questions but something about it just seems sketchy. Thoughts?
Make sure you see the place before you pay the application fee. I've seen landlords 'collect' fees from multiple applicants. And only run the background check on a few candidates. The landlord must inform tenants before entering. He may not be on good terms with them and a showing while they are sill living there might upset them.
Yeah this is part of what I was thinking as well. I mean I get being on not great terms with people but the glossing over letting me see the place is a pretty major red flag. It just screams identity theft to me, but I don’t know if I’m just being hyper paranoid.
you’re not being too paranoid
Heard of people who don't own the place and yet take an advance saying they need a token amount as it's first come first go. Then stop answering the phone.
Eh. Sounds like a scam. Landlords ohn the up and up wouldn't do this
Scam
Sketch. You should look something else.
I’ve only always rented at apartment complexes for that very reason. Much easier to trust.
Yeah I just decided to not engage with this person. It just has to be a scam. Really unfortunate though. Why do people have to be awful?
do a reverse image search to make sure that photos weren’t lifted off a real estate site. sounds pretty sketchy so far also where is this?
Reverse image search is a good idea. I will try that out. As for where it is, I don’t think that’s really relevant, but mostly I just don’t want to answer, but I don’t want to be a complete asshole either so here we are. ::stares at ground awkwardly ::
ah no worries. if it’s in SF - i’ve encountered a lot of scams that reuse real estate pics for this exact type of scam during my search